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Argentina
Mendoza
Vines against the snow-capped Andes, Malbec at the source and asado lunches that make European wine regions look abstemious.
- Best forCouples · Foodies · Luxury seekers
- In December27°C · 9 rainy days
- Ideal stay3-4 nights
- Approx. flying time~11h 20m from Los Angeles
Mendoza, Argentina
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Powered by Geoapify · © OpenStreetMap contributors · © OpenMapTiles
- CurrencyARSArgentine peso
- LanguageSpanish
- Local time06:244h behind the UK
- PlugsType C / IBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+54
Why go
Mendoza sits at the foot of the Andes, its vineyards planted in high-altitude desert that gets almost no rain and depends entirely on meltwater channelled down from the mountains. Malbec is the reason most people come, and it shows at its best here, tasted in cellar courtyards with snow-capped peaks as a backdrop. Asado, Argentina's slow-grilled beef tradition, turns lunch into an unhurried, multi-course event that can run well into the afternoon.
Base yourselves among the wineries of Luján de Cuyo or the higher, cooler Uco Valley, where tastings come with mountain views and lunches stretch to four or five courses without anyone rushing you along. February and March bring the grape harvest and its festivals; November offers spring sunshine and quieter cellar doors. Hire a driver for wine touring, since distances between estates are longer than they look on a map.
- Ideal stay
- 3-4 nights
- The vibe
- Sun-baked, unhurried, wine-soaked
From our guides
Base yourselves among the wineries of Luján de Cuyo or the Uco Valley, where tastings come with mountain panoramas and lunch stretches shamelessly to five courses. February and March bring the harvest; November has spring sunshine and quieter cellar doors. Hire a driver for the day — the distances are big and the pours are generous.
Featured in Ten vineyard escapes for lovers of a long lunch
Things to do
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Luján de Cuyo wineries
The heartland of Argentine Malbec, with family-run bodegas offering tastings and lunches against a backdrop of the Andes.
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Uco Valley
A higher, cooler wine region south of the city, known for elegant, high-altitude Malbec and some of Mendoza's most striking cellar architecture.
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Cerro Aconcagua views
The highest peak in the Americas rises within day-trip distance, visible from several vantage points on the road towards Chile.
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Parque General San Martín
A large city park with a boating lake, rose garden and a viewpoint over Mendoza and the mountains beyond.
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Grape harvest festival
Held each March, the Fiesta de la Vendimia fills the city with parades, folklore performances and open-air concerts.
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Potrerillos reservoir
A mountain lake close to the city, popular for rafting and kayaking against a dramatic Andean backdrop of bare peaks.
Getting there
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Fly to
Mendoza (MDZ)
Nearest airport to Mendoza, about 196km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Lujan de Cuyo
San Rafael (AFA) is a small regional airport around three hours' drive south, so most visitors fly instead into Mendoza's own airport, about 30 minutes from the Lujan de Cuyo wineries.
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On the ground
Getting around
Distances between bodegas are long and the tastings are generous, so a hired driver or a winery tour is the sensible way to spend the day; the Uco Valley is a further hour south.
Public transport: Buses connect Mendoza city with the wine towns, and long-distance coaches are excellent, but the cellar doors themselves are scattered along country roads.
Flights
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Roughly 11h 20m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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When to go
Daytime highs run from about 12°C in July to 28°C in January. Driest in July; wettest in January, with rain on about 12 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
December27° · rain 9 daysWarm with rain most weeks.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — March and April. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Winery lodges and boutique posadas among the vines, plus city hotels and hostels in Mendoza itself. Self-catering is limited outside the city.
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Best base overall
Lujan de Cuyo
Vineyard lodges among the oldest Malbec estates, half an hour from the city and closest to the largest cluster of cellar doors. You will need a driver or a taxi for every meal.
Find stays in Lujan de Cuyo -
Best value
Mendoza city, around Plaza Independencia
Cheapest beds, restaurants that stay open late and every tour picking up from your door. The vineyards are a drive away, so you see the wine country in day trips.
Find stays in Mendoza city, around Plaza Independencia -
Best for couples
Uco Valley
The high-altitude valley an hour and a half south, with the most spectacular Andes views and the newest wineries. Remote enough that most guests stay full-board.
Find stays in Uco Valley -
Best with children
Chacras de Coria
A leafy village between the city and the vineyards, with pools, plazas and easy restaurants. Handy for both worlds, with less of the estate glamour.
Find stays in Chacras de Coria
Worth knowing before you book: The Vendimia harvest festival in early March fills the whole province, and winery restaurants take bookings weeks ahead, so reserve lunches when you reserve rooms.
Search everything else in Lujan de Cuyo by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Timing
- February and March bring the grape harvest and its festivals; November offers spring sunshine and quieter cellar doors before the summer crowds.
- Getting around
- Hire a driver or join an organised tour for wine touring; distances between estates are greater than the map suggests and tastings involve alcohol.
- Book ahead
- The best-known wineries need reservations for tastings and lunch, particularly during harvest season, so plan visits a few days ahead.
- Altitude
- Mendoza city itself sits at a modest altitude, but trips towards Aconcagua climb quickly; take it slowly if heading further into the mountains.
- Food
- Asado lunches are a genuine event here, often running for several hours; pace your wine tasting accordingly.
Further afield
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Mendoza?
For warm, mostly dry days, March and April. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 12°C in July to 28°C in January. Driest in July; wettest in January, with rain on about 12 days.
How long should I spend in Mendoza?
Our suggestion: 3-4 nights.
How do I get to Mendoza?
San Rafael (AFA) is a small regional airport around three hours' drive south, so most visitors fly instead into Mendoza's own airport, about 30 minutes from the Lujan de Cuyo wineries.
Do I need a car in Mendoza?
Yes, a car makes a real difference here. Buses connect Mendoza city with the wine towns, and long-distance coaches are excellent, but the cellar doors themselves are scattered along country roads.
What currency and language are used in Mendoza?
Currency: Argentine peso (ARS). Language: Spanish. Plugs: type C and I.
Who is Mendoza best for?
Best for couples, foodies and luxury seekers. In a phrase: sun-baked, unhurried, wine-soaked.